Author: healthtost
Journalist Ira Glasswho hosts the NPR show “This American Life”, he is not a computer scientist. He doesn’t work for Google, Apple or Nvidia. But he has a good ear for useful phrases and in 2024 he organized an entire episode around one that might resonate with anyone who feels blindsided by the pace of AI development: “Unprepared for what’s already happened.” Coined by science journalist Alex Steffenthe phrase captures the unsettling sense that “the experience and expertise you have acquired” may now be obsolete – or, at the very least, far less valuable than it once was. Whenever I…
With Christine Elliott As a former Ontario health minister, I am concerned about the health of Canadians – and the health of our health care system – as flu season is here. I started a career in politics because I care deeply about making the lives of our fellow Canadians better. As Health Minister, I was driven by the knowledge that our decisions could have a profound impact on the most vulnerable people. It was important to me to ensure that care was there for everyone when it was needed most. I also know that each of us can…
The holiday cheer is great. Vacation skin? Not always. A weekend of salty snacks, sweet treats, late nights, cold air, travel, and—you guessed it—stress—and suddenly you’re dealing with dry skin, dull skin, stress acne, irritation, or a crazy, damaged skin barrier. Sensitive skin is especially prone to breakouts this time of year. Everyone has a favorite holiday treat—some sweet, some savory, all delicious. But when the holiday snacking goes up, your skin is often the first to notice. Too much of a good thing can leave you dealing with dry skin, dull skin, or an already sensitive skin barrier that…
Can you guess the leading cause of infant hospitalization in the United States? You might think of accidents, allergic reactions, or the flu, but the answer is actually respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). Each year, RSV sends 58,000 to 80,000 children under the age of 5 to the hospital. Having a baby in the fall or winter always meant parents had to be extra careful about RSV. Fortunately, two new ways to protect babies from this virus became available in 2023: a vaccine given to women between 32 and 36 weeks pregnant, and an antibody (passive vaccination) given directly to babies…
Have you noticed that many people around you suddenly choose running as a hobby? One of your friends is probably already preparing for a marathon and now you want to join in too. Running may seem simple, but it actually puts stress on your joints, muscles, and even your heart. You need to prepare your body before you run or you risk serious injury. Proper preparation for running helps build strength and endurance in the body. Getting started smartly can reduce your risk of future injuries and help you stick with this hobby in the long run. Who wouldn’t want…
Scientists at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai have developed an experimental immunotherapy that takes an unconventional approach to metastatic cancer: instead of directly targeting cancer cells, it targets the cells that protect them. The study, published in the January 22 online issue of Cancer Cella Cell Press Journal [DOI 10.1016/j.ccell.2025.12.021]was conducted in aggressive preclinical models of metastatic ovarian and lung cancer. It indicates a new strategy for the treatment of advanced solid tumors. In a strategy modeled after the famous Trojan horse, the treatment enters tumors by targeting cells called macrophages that protect cancer cells, disarms these…
In every generation, there are women who quietly reshape the way we understand health, identity, and the arc of a woman’s life. Dr. Christine Wu, MD, is one of those women. A physician with the heart of a healer and the insight of a teacher, Dr. Wu combines lifestyle medicine, body conditioning, and intuitive practice to illuminate a new conversation around midlife. It is a conversation based on truth rather than fear, and possibility rather than decline. Her work invites women to see middle age not as something to be endured, but as a profound time of evolution. It is…
While many beauty treatments benefit from the winter season, the following five are consistently prioritized by experienced providers when long-term results matter most. Not because they are trendy – but because they are based on controlled therapy, collagen regeneration and time. 1. CO2 Laser Resurfacing CO₂ laser resurfacing works by creating controlled microtrauma to the skin, triggering a profound regenerative response. New collagen formation continues for months after treatment, so timing is critical. Why winter matters:Reduced sun exposure reduces the risk of post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation and allows the skin to heal without environmental interference. Social downtime is also easier to manage,…
With a long holiday season finally behind us, there’s no better time than today to focus on yourself and plan ahead for a bigger, brighter 2026. Maybe you want to stick to a New Year’s resolution, or you just want to incorporate healthier, more sustainable habits into your everyday life. In both cases, I invite you to invest in yourself. Check out the wellness finds below that could get you closer to your goals for the coming year. They cover food, finances, fitness and more to help you look and feel great in various aspects of your life. 7 Wellness…
Myosteosis, the pathological infiltration of fat into skeletal muscle, is increasingly recognized as a key predictor of poor clinical outcomes in a spectrum of liver diseases. However, the field faces significant challenges, including a lack of standardized assessment methods, definitions, and diagnostic criteria, as well as an incomplete understanding of its pathophysiological mechanisms. This narrative review aims to synthesize the current knowledge of myosteatosis in liver disease, covering its assessment, clinical impact in various etiologies, proposed pathogenesis, and potential management strategies. Assessment and definition of myosteatosis Myosteatosis represents muscle wasting qualitydifferent from sarcopenia (reduced muscle quantity). Its assessment has gone…